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Well, its that time of year already, Im testing for 5th kyu tommorrow. It seems as if its been a long time coming, as I was supposed to test back in june but for various reasons it was pushed back several times (giving me an escape route )well, no more, Its do or die time. To be honest I was very worried about this test, partly because I would be testing in front of the head of our organisation, Riley Sensei, whereas I did my 6th kyu at my own dojo in front of my 'regular' (theres no such thing ) sensei.
The main reason im worried though is that I care about aikido so much, usually when I do an exam im not really worried about passing or failing, because most exams i've done havent been important to me. I either passed or failed, meh, big deal, but because I really care about aikido and representing my sensei well I want to do my best.
Now however, as time has gradually gotten closer to the big day I have started to look more and more forward to it, it is my time to go out there and show what I have been taught.
I am so grateful to my sensei, Sean Cassidy Sensei for not only all the training and preparation he has given me for this grading but also for his friendship and belief in me, I could not have even considered standing in front of the grading panel without his support.
I am also grateful to Tenuer Sensei for starting me off down the path of aiki and for all of his and Sensei Seths efforts in teaching me as well as their friendship.
Many thanks to my sempai and indeed my kohai who have given just as much in my preparation for this test, Lu, Hannah, Chris, Stu, Tim, im lucky to train with such great people.
Lastly, thanks to everyone at aikiweb for all the disscussions and laughs, we have a great community here.

I dont know how I will do tommorrow, but I just had to get my thoughts out somehow, now im going to go train tonight, share a beer with the people mentioned above and tell them what I just told you guys. Sorry if it was long and thanks for reading.

For techniques against shomen uchi I remember doing the kokyu nage where you turn and drop to one knee and throw uke into a breakfall(dont know its name), sumiotoshi, iriminage a few times, kaitennage and I think I was asked to do kotegaeshi too but it was all a blur by that point. After some basic bokken suburi we were sat down and Tim, myself and another were told that we had done well with the 5th kyu test and they would like to try us for 4th kyu(gulp).

So after the other people testing for 4th kyu assembled, including two of my sempai, chris and stu (It was really cool to watch them grade, that was a priveledge I didnt expect to have), we did some Gyaku hanme katate dori, I remember doing ikkyo, nikkyo, sankyo, yonkyo, shionage (which I fluffed up a bit and ended up just grabbing tims wrist and doing ai hanme shionage) and kotegaeshi.

For techniques against yokomen I remember doing shionage, sankyo, sokumen iriminage, ikkyo, sumiotoshi and kaitennage, though by this point everything is definately a blur and I thought I was going to have a heart attack

Then it was weapons work, I think I managed bokken suburi 1-7 alright, much thanks to teneur sensei for the last minute advice on friday night which was still clear in my head

I messed up the last jo suburi, number 10, so that needs more work I reckon.

Anyways, both tim and myself gained 4th kyu as well as chris and stu and all the others who tested. Training with Sensei Cottier was great, I just wish I hadnt been so wiped by the grading. Thanks for the comments and support, now I can look forward to getting back to training and focusing on what needs more work, as well as relaxing a little bit (I feel like someone was hitting me with a bat when I was asleep last night! I'll put that down to Tims iriminages and tenchinages, judo habits die hard I guess ). Again thanks to my sensei, my sempai/kohai, my dojo and everyone who helped prepare me for this test

They're all screaming about the rock n roll, but I would say that it's getting old. - REFUSED.

If you want to remember what happened more clearly, writing it down the same day it happened helps. On the other hand, you may have better things to do that evening, like throwing a party or soaking in really hot water to keep those bruises tamed....

(Mary, I tend to not be able remember what-the-heck happened during tests the minute after they've ended, let alone the same evening or days afterwards. The only way I know what I've done is by checking the syllabus )